Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Joe Scarborough has heated rant about Capitol riots: ‘Trump supporters come in and you open the f****** doors for them’

‘You open the doors for them and let them breach the people’s house’

Clémence Michallon
New York City
Thursday 07 January 2021 10:55 EST
Comments
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on 6 January 2021
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on 6 January 2021 (OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Joe Scarborough launched into a heated rant about the Capitol riots on Thursday morning, hours after a mob of Pro-Trump rioters breached security and stormed the building.

On Thursday’s Morning Joe broadcast, Scarborough questioned law enforcement’s response to the rioters, asking: “What is it, is it just white people? Or is it Donald Trump supporters? Why do you scream at people for walking across the street three blocks away from the Capitol? ”

With outrage, audibly pounding on his desk, the TV presenter added: “Trump supporters come in and you open the f****** doors for them. You open the doors for them and let them breach the people’s house? What is wrong with you?”

Scaroborough, a former US Representative, outlined the security measures he had to observe at the Capitol when he was a member of Congress, contrasting them with Wednesday’s events.

“Even as a member of Congress, I had to have my I.D to get in,” he said. “If I walked across an adjoining street when no cards were on that street but I didn’t have a walk sign, Capitol Hill police would scream at the top of their lungs and tell us all to get back on the sidewalk.”

He added: “When I was walking to a State of the Union address, across the street from the Capitol, five Capitol Hill police started screaming at me, telling me I had to clear the area.”

Morning Joe, has repeatedly challenged Trump over the past few years, after its hosts, Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, were accused in 2016 of being too soft on the then-presidential candidate. 

The news and talk show opened on Thursday morning with a montage of photos of the violent riots, which have left four dead, set to Johnny Cash’s cover of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt”.

The excerpt of the song chosen by the Morning Joe team includes lyrics such as “What have I become/My sweetest friend?” and “I will let you down/I will make you hurt”.

It features images of rioters taking over the Capitol – the seat of the legislative branch of government in the US – pushing down barriers, climbing walls, and facing off with police. Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka, Rudy Giuliani, Senator Ted Cruz, and Senator Josh Hawley are also pictured.

 

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in